Icema D. Gibbs is the Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for JetBlue Airways. Ms. Gibbs is responsible for JetBlue’s corporate citizenship, working to enhance the company’s brand platform through global cause marketing and philanthropic initiatives. Through her leadership, JetBlue’s award winning Corporate Social Responsibility efforts have been recognized and applauded in the United States and abroad. In 2020, Ms. Gibbs took on the added responsibilities of supporting JetBlue’s Crewmember Resource Groups (CRGs) before stepping up to lead the overall Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy. Since then, she has helped navigate difficult but much needed conversations on racial injustice and discrimination, while also solidifying DEI efforts with measurable goals to reduce biases, break down barriers and set up new pathways to increase representation at all levels of the company. Ms. Gibbs has been honored for her leadership and dedication to creating social change including in 2009 when Queens Borough President Helen Marshal issued a proclamation declaring April 23 as Icema Danielle Gibbs day in the New York City borough that’s home to JetBlue headquarters.  

Ms. Gibbs is one of JetBlue’s founders, having been with the airline long before it took to the skies. She joined the company in August 1999 as Director of JFK Operations. She was part of the small team that worked to get JetBlue certified as a commercial airline by the Federal Aviation Administration. During her tenure at JFK, Ms. Gibbs was responsible for all aspects of operations and customer experience. She started her aviation career at Newark International Airport with People Express after graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in broadcast journalism.  Ms. Gibbs joined Continental Airlines after People Express merged with Continental in 1987, taking on roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as Director of Customer Service, managing the airport staff responsible for more than 800 daily departures and arrivals. Ms. Gibbs was instrumental in establishing and managing Continental’s award winning Concierge program.

Ms. Gibbs’ leadership qualities have afforded her the opportunity to participate with thought-leaders to help the Bloomberg administration launch NYCServe – New York City’s volunteer initiative. She is a founding board member of the City University of New York’s Aviation Institute at York College and serves on the boards of Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and the New York Council of Airport Opportunity.  Additionally, she serves on the board of Do Something.org; a national not-for-profit  that inspires and supports young people changing the world.  She is also a member of the Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Inc. Ms. Gibbs is a native of Queens, New York, where she lives today with her daughter, also named Icema.